NVIDIA worked closely with Android's Google and the Open Handset Alliance to support the Android open mobile phone stack. The Android-Tegra combination thus offers the participating vendors an alternative to the previously supported Windows Mobile.

Andy Rubin, Google's senior director of mobile platforms issued a statement that he welcomes "NVIDIA's support of Android on Tegra and we look forward to many more Android-based devices that deliver an outstanding consumer experience." The announcement and presentation of the NVIDIA Tegra APX 2600 processor was made at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Availability is planned for the second quarter of 2009.

Features of the Android-supported Tegra include 720p HD video capture and playback using NVIDIA's PureVideo technology. More details are on NVIDIA'S Tegra website.

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NVIDIA sees itself obliged to openly announce its preference for Windows CE for its new Tegra platform. This news alone would be suspicious if it weren't for the graphics chipmaker's not so subtle dig at Android and Linux.